Late Vehicle Registration Fees

Failure to register a vehicle on time results in a $25-per-month late fee after the 90-day period during which initial registration was required, up to $100 total.  Vehicle owners must pay the taxes and fees to register the vehicle and pro-rated taxes and fees from the date the vehicle should have been registered to the date the owner registered the car.  A supplemental unregistered vehicle fine may be imposed if a person is convicted of misdemeanor, knowingly failing to register a vehicle, within 90 days of becoming a resident of the state.

Exemptions from the late fee include vehicles that are:

• used for operating a commercial business and were idled for a full registration period;
• owned by military personnel serving outside Colorado when the grace period for renewal has passed and the vehicle is not operated on a public highway until re‑registration; and
• stolen, and the registration expired during the time, or duration of, the theft. 

The division may establish rules for additional exemptions including:

• acts of God and weather-related delays;
• office closures and furloughs;
• medical hardships; and
• information technology failures.